Patent GB-190716137-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Signal Operating Mechanism and Signalling Systems for Railways and the like.
Filed: 1907-07-13
Granted: 1908-07-09
Abstract: 16,137. Allgemeine Elektricitõts-Ges. July 14, 1906, [date applied for under Patents Act, 1901]. Hand-levers; signalling - systems ; contacts, electric; controlling and locking signals.-In a purely electric arrangement, a hand-lever operating electric-switch mechanism at a station controls a track lever in the signal cabin, which operates electric switches and controls another hand-lever operating a switch in the signal circuit. The levers are locked by the armatures of electro-magnets in the circuits, and a track contact provides for the control of the track lever by a train. The circuit operating the signal is closed only when the station lever is locked. When the operator at a station wishes to indicate to the pointsman in the signal cabin that the track is clear, he operates a lever A to move a switch H, and closes a circuit from a battery X<1> through closed switches M, J, a closed switch contact k<3>, line l<1> to the closed switch contact k<8> in the signal cabin, a magnet R and a bell O to earth and to the battery X<1>. The bell gives an indication, and also the energized magnet R attracts its armature S to give a visual indication by means of a small disk appearing at a window U, and to remove a locking catch T from a sector Q attached to the track lever P. The operation of the lever A also closes a second circuit from the battery X<2> in the signal cabin through the contact k<9>, line l<2>, contact k<4>, and a magnet C to earth and to the battery X<2>. The energized magnet C attracts its armature D to give a visual indication by means of a small disk appearing at a window F, and to remove a locking catch from the path of a sector B attached to the hand-lever A, so that the lever A may be returned to its original position if necessary. The signalman then moves the track lever P to actuate the switch W and break the circuits described above at the contacts k<8>, k<9>, so that the bell 0 is stopped and the indicators U, F are reversed, while the fallen armatures S, D lock the levers P, A in their actuated positions. The contacts Z<2> are also closed, and the falling of the armature D under the action of a spring s' moves a switch J by means of a pin and slot, the pin being carried on the tail of the armature D. A circuit is thus closed from the battery X' through the switch J, contact k<2>, a closed switch N, an indication lamp L<2>, line l<3>, contact k<11>, contacts Z<2>, control switch w, and a magnet m to earth and to battery X<1>. The attracted armature of the magnet m releases the signal lever a, and operates a visual indicator to notify the pointsman that the lever a may be operated. When the lever a is moved, a circuit is closed from the battery X<1> through the signal lamp L<1>, line l<5>, a closed contact k<13> to earth and to the battery X<1>. A manual switch N may be operated by the station official to de-energize the magnet m and open the main signal circuit (not shown). The track lever is released by the train in any well-known manner. When the train arrives at the track contact TS, the rail contact s<3>, which is normally insulated from the rail, is connected to earth by the train, which then completes a circuit from the battery X<3> through the line l<6>, contact k<12>, magnet R, and bell O to earth and to the battery X<3>. The attracted armature S then releases the lever P, closes the contacts Z<1>, and establishes a circuit from the battery X' through the contacts Z<1>, magnet R, and bell O to earth and the battery X', which maintains the release of the lever P when the train has left the track contact. If necessary, the station official may actuate a switch M to close a circuit from the battery X<1> through the lead l<4>, contact k<12>, magnet R, and bell O to earth and to the battery X', and so to release the lever P. The reversal of the track lever P again energizes the magnet C at the station, and the armature D is attracted, but owing to the pin andslot connexion the switch J is not actuated until the lever A is moved to its original position